Detachable hospital curtain

ABSTRACT

A curtain panel suitable for use in a hospital or patient facilities or in surgical settings. The curtain panel comprises a bottom panel removably attached and suspended from a top panel. The top panel may be suspended from a rail or similar mechanism by suspension means such as hooks or rings. The curtain panels may be of various lengths, and a plurality of curtain panels may be used together to form a complete or partial wall or enclosure. The top panel may comprise a mesh or mesh-like fabric or substance so as to allow air, light, and/or water to pass through. The bottom panel may be opaque to provide privacy, and may be flame resistant and/or antibacterial. The bottom panel may be single-use or disposable, or may be reusable. In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom panel is manufactured from sturdy material able to withstand frequent washings or cleanings.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/751,529, filed Dec. 19, 2005, by David Alexander, and is entitledin whole or in part to that filing date for priority. The specificationand drawings of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/751,529 areincorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to hospital curtains. More specifically,the invention relates to a detachable, ventilating enclosure for usewith a supporting structure or railing to define an enclosure of thetype utilized for hospital beds, surgical facilities, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of curtains or a device to create an individual cubicle or spacearound a hospital bed to provide privacy to patients is well known.Typically, the curtain is suspended from a rail or similar supportmechanism located on or near the ceiling, and then moved along the railor support mechanism to close or open, in whole or in part, the cubicleor space. Curtain panels in the prior art are constructed as an integralunit, usually with a lower portion sufficiently opaque to provideprivacy and an upper portion sufficiently porous to provide ventilationand the transmission of light and water. These portions often areconstructed of different materials stitched or glued together.

Curtains in the prior art are expensive to manufacture, difficult tolaunder, and increase the risk of infection. One noted problem is thatremoval of prior curtains for cleaning often requires the nurse orindividual removing the curtain to stand on a chair or similar piece offurniture to reach the top of the curtain and detach the curtain fromthe rail or support mechanism. Replacement of a curtain panel has asimilar problem. This can be dangerous to the individual doing theremoving and any patient nearby.

Accordingly, what is needed is an improved hospital curtain panel thatcan be inexpensively manufactured and easily removed and replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a curtain panel with a bottom panelremovably attached and suspended from a top panel. The top panel may besuspended from a rail or similar mechanism by suspension means such ashooks or rings. The lower edge of the top panel contains fastening meansto attach the bottom panel. The curtain panels may be of variouslengths, and a plurality of curtain panels may be used together.

The top panel may be solid, or comprise a mesh or mesh-like fabric orsubstance. The top panel may be constructed so as to allow air, light,and/or water to pass through.

The bottom panel may be attached to and suspended from the top panel bya variety of means. In one exemplary embodiment, the suspension meanscomprises a plurality of straps extending from the upper edge of thebottom panel and fastened to the top panel by fastening means. Fasteningmeans include, but are not limited to, buttons, hooks, snaps, Velcro andthe like. In an alternative embodiment, the straps may extend from thelower edge of the top panel, with fastening means disposed along theupper edge of the bottom panel. In yet another alternative embodiment,the straps may be independent and fastened at both ends to the top andbottom panels. In another embodiment, the bottom panel may be fasteneddirectly to the top panel.

The bottom panel may be opaque so as to provide privacy, and may bemanufactured from a variety of materials known to the industry,including but not limited to polypropylene, polyester, treated naturalfibers, or other fabrics. The material may be flame resistant and/orantibacterial. The bottom panel may be single-use or disposable, or maybe reusable. In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom panel ismanufactured from sturdy material able to withstand frequent washings orcleanings.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the bottom panel further maycomprise pleats, which may be located at the upper edge or bottom edge,or both, and may face one side or both. In one exemplary embodiment, thetop panel extends down far enough for a person of average height toreach the fastening means while standing on the floor, thus enabling theconvenient and safe detachment of the bottom panel from the top panel.Easy removal and replacement of the bottom panel for cleaning and otherpurposes is thereby promoted.

In another exemplary embodiment, a plurality of curtain panels are usedto form a partially or wholly-enclosed area. The sides of adjacentpanels may be fastened together in a variety of configurations.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the invention includes means on thetop panel or bottom panel, or both, for indicating when the curtainpanel was last changed, washed, and/or cleaned. Said means can be, butis not limited to, a portion of the panel, or a label on the panel,where the date the panel was last changed, washed, and/or cleaned can bewritten or inscribed, or where some other indicia can be written, suchas the number of days before the panel should be changed, washed and/orcleaned. Said means also may be expanded so that one or more dates orchecklists can be provided or written so as to provide an auditable orreviewable trail or history of such actions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of a top panel and the upper edge of a bottom panelin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of a top panel in accordance with another embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a view of a bottom panel in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows another view of a bottom panel in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a view of a flap in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 shows a view of a strap in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the numerous figures, wherein like references identifylike elements of the invention, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. A curtain panel in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a top panel2 and a bottom panel 4 removably attached and suspended from the toppanel 2. The curtain panels, and the components thereof, may be ofvarious lengths, and a plurality of curtain panels may be used together.

The top panel 2 is suspended from a rail or similar mechanism (notshown) by suspension means, such as hooks or rings or Velcro (notshown), inserted into a plurality of upper eyelets 8 disposed along theupper edge 5 of the top panel 2. The lower edge 6 of the top panel 2contains fastening means 14 to attach the bottom panel 4. In oneexemplary embodiment, the section of the top panel 2 between the upperand lower edges comprises a mesh or mesh-like fabric or substance 3. Themesh 3 may be of any size and configuration. In one exemplaryembodiment, the mesh 3 is of an appropriate dimension to allow air,light and/or water to pass through.

The upper edge 5 and lower edge 6 may comprise a band of material 17, 18attached by sewing, gluing, or other means to the mesh 3. The bands 17,18 may be located on either or both sides of the mesh. The bands 17, 18may be located on either or both sides (i.e., front and back) of thepanel. The bands may be of any appropriate width. In one exemplaryembodiment, the bands may be about 2 inches wide. In an alternativeembodiment, side bands 23 may be attached to the panel (on either orboth sides) by sewing, gluing, Velcro, or other means. The side bandsmay be of any appropriate width, and also may be located on either frontand back or both. In one exemplary embodiment, the side bands may befrom one-half to one inch wide.

The bottom panel 4 may be attached to and suspended from the top panel 2by a variety of means. In one exemplary embodiment, the suspension meanscomprises a plurality of straps 12 extending from the upper edge 10 ofthe bottom panel 4 and fastened to the top panel 2 by fastening means14. Fastening means include, but are not limited to, buttons, hooks,snaps, Velcro and the like. The straps 12 comprise correspondingfastening means 15 as appropriate for the fastening means 14 on thepanel. In an alternative embodiment, the straps 12 may extend from thelower edge 6 of the top panel 2, with fastening means 14 disposed alongthe upper edge 10 of the bottom panel 4. In yet another alternativeembodiment, the straps 12 may be independent and fastened at both endsto the top and bottom panels 2, 4. In yet another embodiment, the bottompanel 4 may be attached directly to the top panel 2, by fastening meansincluding, but not limited to, buttons, hooks, snaps, Velcro, and thelike.

The bottom panel 4 may be opaque so as to provide privacy, and may bemanufactured from a variety of materials known to the industry,including but not limited to polypropylene, polyester, treated naturalfibers, or other fabrics. The material may be flame resistant and/orantibacterial. The bottom panel 4 may be single-use or disposable, ormay be reusable. In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom panel 4 ismanufactured from sturdy material able to withstand frequent washings orcleanings.

The bottom panel 4 further may comprise pleats 16, which may be locatedat the upper edge or bottom edge, or both, and may face one side orboth. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the pleats 16 arelocated along the upper edge and alternate facing (i.e., front, back,front, back).

The upper edge 10 and lower edge 11 of the lower panel 4 also maycomprise bands of material 21, 22 formed by hemming or attached bysewing, gluing, or other means to the panel 4. The bands 21, 22 may belocated on either or both sides (i.e, front and back) of the panel. Thebands may be of any appropriate width. In one exemplary embodiment, thebands may be about 2 inches wide. In an alternative embodiment, sidebands 23 may be attached to the panel (on either or both sides) bysewing, gluing, Velcro or other means. The side bands may be of anyappropriate width, and also may be located on either front and back orboth. In one exemplary embodiment, the side bands may be from one-halfto one inch wide. In another exemplary embodiment, the bottom band maybe of the same size or width as the side bands.

In an exemplary embodiment, the top panel 4 extends down far enough fora person of average height to reach the fastening means 8 while standingon the floor, thus enabling the convenient and safe detachment of thebottom panel 4 from the top panel 2. Easy removal and replacement of thebottom panel 4 for cleaning and other purposes is thereby promoted. Thevertical dimension (width, height, or length) of the bottom panel 4would then be adapted to the width of the top panel 2 so that the loweredge 11 of the bottom panel 4, when the bottom panel 4 is attached tothe top panel 2, would reach the vicinity of the floor in the manner ofprior art curtains.

The upper eyelets 8 may be variably or evenly spaced so as to provideadequate support for the curtain panel 1. In one exemplary embodiment,as shown in FIG. 1, the upper eyelets 8 are evenly spaced a distance of7 inches, although this distance may be greater or smaller.

The fastening means 14 (or straps 12, when straps are attached to thetop panel 2) also may be variably or evenly spaced. In one exemplaryembodiment, the fastening means 14 have the same spacing as the uppereyelets 8, and may be located directly below the corresponding eyelet oroffset therefrom. As shown in FIG. 1, the spacing of the outermostfastening means 14 a may be varied from the even spacing of the innerfastening means. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, thefastening means 14 are evenly spaced a distance of 7 inches, while theoutermost fastening means 14 a are spaced 6 inches from the adjacentfastening means 14, although these distances may be greater or smaller.Spacing of the straps 12 correspond to the spacing of the fasteningmeans 14.

The top panel 2 and the bottom panel 4 may be of the same or differenthorizontal dimension (width or length). For example, a top panel couldbe 10 feet long, and could support two bottom panels of appropriatelength (or vice versa), such as two five-foot bottom panels. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the top panel lengths are each 5 feet long, ormultiples of 5 feet.

In another exemplary embodiment, a plurality of curtain panels 1 areused to form a partially or wholly-enclosed area. The plurality ofpanels may be hung end-to-end, and may be unfastened or fastened, whollyor partially. In one embodiment, the top panel 2 and bottom panel 4 of acurtain panel 1 may be hung so their sides are in vertical alignment,with fastening means 30 attached to the respective sides of the bottomand/or top panels comprising the adjacent curtain panels 1. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the bottom panel 4 is slightly offset from thecorresponding top panel 2, as seen in FIG. 1, so as to facilitate theformation of the enclosed area with the multiple curtain panels 1. Thisoffset may be accomplished by having the outermost straps 12 a on thebottom panel 4 be located at different distances from their respectivepanel edges than the corresponding fastening means 8 on the top panel 2.

Fastening means 30 may be attached to one or both sides of the bottompanels (or top panels) so as to enable adjacent bottom panels (or toppanels) to be attached to each other. In an exemplary embodiment,fastening means may be located only on the bottom panels. The bottompanels also may be positioned to overlap at their edges. In thisembodiment, the bottom panels may be slightly longer than the toppanels.

In another exemplary embodiment, the fastening means 30 comprises a flap32 positioned along one side of the bottom panel, which overlaps withand attaches to the corresponding side of the adjacent bottom panel. Theflap 32 may extend for all or a portion of the length of the side. Theflap can be attached with one or more strips of Velcro or magneticmaterials, or a plurality of snaps, buttons, or the like. In oneexemplary embodiment, the flap is V-shaped, adapted so that thecorresponding side of the adjacent panel fits inside the “V” and isfastened therein.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the invention includes means on thetop panel or bottom panel, or both, for indicating when the curtainpanel was last changed, washed, and/or cleaned. Said means can be, butis not limited to, a portion of the panel, or a label on the panel,where the date the panel was last changed, washed, and/or cleaned can bewritten or inscribed, or where some other indicia can be written, suchas the number of days before the panel should be changed, washed and/orcleaned. Said means also may be expanded so that one or more dates orchecklists can be provided or written so as to provide an auditable orreviewable trail or history of such actions.

Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples havebeen chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principals ofthe invention and its practical applications to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited for theparticular uses contemplated. Even though specific embodiments of thisinvention have been described, they are not to be taken as exhaustive.There are several variations that will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention bedefined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A curtain panel, comprising: a one top panel; and a bottom panelremovably attached to the top panel.
 2. The curtain panel of claim 1,wherein the bottom panel is removably attached directly to the toppanel.
 3. The curtain panel of claim 2, wherein the bottom panel isremovably attached directly to the top panel by one or more of buttons,hooks, snaps, or Velcro.
 4. The curtain panel of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of straps extending between a bottom edge of thetop panel and a top edge of the bottom panel.
 5. The curtain panel ofclaim 4, wherein the straps are either removably attached to the bottomedge of the top panel, removably attached to the top edge of the bottompanel, or both.
 6. The curtain panel of claim 5, wherein the straps areremovably attached by one or more of buttons, hooks, snaps, or Velcro.7. The curtain panel of claim 4, further wherein the bottom panel hastwo side edge, said side edges adapted to be removably fastened to thecorresponding side edge or edges of one or more adjacent bottom panels.8. The curtain panel of claim 7, wherein the side edge of a first bottompanel comprises a flap that extends for all or a portion of the lengthof the side edge, said flap adapted to attach to the corresponding sideedge of a second bottom panel adjacent to the first bottom panel.
 9. Thecurtain panel of claim 8, wherein the flap contains one or more snaps,buttons, magnetic material, or Velcro.
 10. The curtain panel of claim 1,wherein the bottom panel is offset from the top panel.
 11. The curtainpanel of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel is opaque.
 12. The curtainpanel of claim 1, wherein the top panel comprises a mesh-like fabric.13. The curtain panel of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel isdisposable.
 14. The curtain panel of claim 1, wherein the bottom panelis washable and reusable.
 15. A curtain panel, comprising: at least onetop panel; and at least one bottom panel removably attached to at leastone top panel.
 16. The curtain panel of claim 15, wherein two or morebottom panels are removably attached to the same top panel.
 17. Thecurtain panel of claim 15, wherein two or more top panels are removablyattached to the same bottom panel.
 18. A hospital or surgical curtainpanel wall or enclosure, comprising: a plurality of top panels; and aplurality of bottom panels removably attached to one or more of theplurality of top panels, wherein the bottom panels are placed end-to-endto form the wall or enclosure.